Liberal Democrats rule out coalition with May’s Conservatives or Corbyn’s Labour Tim Farron rules out coalition deals with Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn

Posted by Luke Chapman | Updated 2017-04-22

Tim Farron has ruled out doing any coalition deals with Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn after the election.

Every Liberal Democrat vote and every Liberal Democrat MP elected is a challenge to Theresa May’s Hard Brexit agenda. In the next parliament we will fight to stop a disastrous Hard Brexit, keep Britain in the Single Market and make sure people have their say on the final Brexit deal in a referendum with remain as an option.

We don't rule out future coalitions - we believe in plural politics - but we won't do one with May or Corbyn.

This election is your chance to change the direction of our country. If you want to stop a Hard Brexit, if you want to keep us in the Single Market, if you want a real opposition, this is your chance. But you can only do that by voting Liberal Democrat.

With a large number of pro-European Lib Dem MPs in the next parliament we can force the government to soften its approach to Brexit and give people the final say over what comes next.

What about the Tories?

Under no conditions can we sign up to Theresa May's Hard Brexit agenda. She is going to be the Prime Minister - that's not in doubt. Our job will be to hold her to account and fight for the things we believe in – above all else our membership of the single market and for the people to have the final say on the deal.

What about Labour?

Everybody knows Jeremy Corbyn won't be the next Prime Minister. There is no prospect of a coalition that would put him in power. There are many issues that Labour and the Liberal Democrats agree on and many people on their side that we respect - but we won't put Corbyn into power. He is pro-Brexit, has promised to pull us out of the single market and marched his MPs and Peers through the lobbies to vote for article 50 without any concessions from the Tories. On top of that, he would be a disaster for the country - he has no plan for the country, our economy and offers no leadership.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=8F71RzAPB70

Are you ruling out a progressive alliance?

We want to work with like-minded, pro-European people of all parties and none to oppose Theresa May's Hard Brexit agenda and fight for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united. But everyone knows Jeremy Corbyn won't be the next Prime Minister and we wouldn't want him to be. We will work with pro-European MPs in any party to stand up to the Conservatives over Hard Brexit, but Corbyn is not that - and there is no prospect of a coalition that would put him in power.

Would you join a coalition with the SNP?

We won’t be doing a deal with the SNP at Westminster because, whatever they might say, they are only interested in getting independence. They will not be interested in making a success of the UK.

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